Aaron Hernandez's potential involvement in 2007 Florida shooting may have been sparked by gold necklace

July 3, 2013|By Iliana Limón Romero | Orlando Sentinel

Aaron Hernandez’s potential involvement in a 2007 Florida shooting may have been sparked by a simple gold necklace.

Hernandez was one of four former Florida Gator football players who were questioned in connection with a 2007 Gainesville shooting, according to a 51-page police report obtained by the Orlando Sentinel.

Two men were shot, including one in the head, prompting Gainesville police to categorize the incident as an attempted homicide. No charges have been field and the case is still considered open.

Corey Smith was shot in the head at about 2:20 a.m. on Sept. 30, 2007, while driving a Crown Victoria past 1250 W. University Avenue, which is near a Holiday Inn in Gainesville. Justin Glass, a passenger, was shot in the arm, while Randall Cason, another passenger, was not harmed. Five shots were fired into the vehicle.

When Cason was interviewed by homicide detectives shortly after the shooting at the Shands Hospital emergency room, a Gainesville police incident report stated Cason was “very emotional” and was screaming, “This is my fault!”

The report states Cason went on to tell detectives the following:

The previous week Cason was with his brother when they got into an altercation with UF football players at the night club Venue. Cason said even though his brother wasn’t with him at the club shortly before the shooting, both Cason and the football players were “in deep.” Detectives referred to the term as slang for having friends along as backup in the event of an altercation.

Cason said they confronted each other and Cason asked the players, “so what are you going to do about this,” alluding to the dispute the previous week.

The players attempted to snatch a gold chain off Cason’s neck, but said they were unsuccessful because the chain was thick. Cason said club staff members stepped in and kicked the football players out of the club.

Cason identified twin offensive linemen Maurkice and Mike Pouncey and safety Reggie Nelson as being involved in the incident. Hernandez’s name is not included in the report -- he was 17 years old at the time of the incident and subject to laws protecting the identities of juveniles -- but ESPN.com reported it obtained a copy of the report with one reference to Cason identifying Hernandez that was not redacted.

The Pouncey twins and Hernandez were current UF players at the time of the incident, while Nelson had recent left the UF program and was on the Jacksonville Jaguars’ roster.

Cason said 45 minutes after the confrontation the club, the players and his group greeted and were “all smiles.” When Smith, Glass and Cason were waiting at a red light on 13th Street,

Nelson and a person he initially identified a “Hawaiian man” who matched Hernandez’s description walked up to the car. Cason said without speaking, the Hawaiian man fired five shots into the car, wounding Smith and Glass.

Nelson, who is now a player for the Cincinnati Bengals, later told detectives he was in the night club but denied any knowledge of the shooting.

He said Cason snatched a necklace that belonged to one of the Pouncey twins. Nelson recalled going over to speak with Cason about it and “Cason told him the chain had already been given away. Nelson advised they didn’t want any trouble and he left on good terms.”

While Nelson spoke with police, Hernandez declined to grant an interview and invoked his right to counsel.

Multiple witnesses provided descriptions of people that appeared to be similar to the Gators Cason mentioned.

However, during a follow-up interview with detectives 15 hours after his emotional outburst the emergency room, Cason rescinded his identification of Nelson and Hernandez as the people who approached the car and fired shots into the vehicle.

Glass told detectives he didn’t recall any disputes in the club and he was with Cason and Smith the entire time they were at the club.

“He claimed no knowledge of any necklace incident and stated that he was unaware of any UF football players in the bar,” detectives wrote following their interview with Glass.

Eva Graham, Glass’ mother, was at the hospital and told detectives, “She believed that the shooting had something to do with a gold necklace but knew nothing more specific.”

Smith had to go through extensive surgery after being shot in the head and his account of the incident was not included in the 51-page Gainesville police report.

Hernandez, 23, has been charged with first-degree murder in connection with the shooting of 27-year-old Odin Lloyd in Massachusetts.

While Hernandez's criminal record during his three years at the University Florida is limited to traffic violations, he has recently been linked to two violent incidents.